The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-07

thr0b Win SURFING myth and dark
weird tales and clear sounding
prophecy of blessed isles and fragrant
lands, where dwelt the gods beyond
the sunset and the sunset sea. Then
come the Norsemen-thOse brave
bees-who swarmed out of the
stormy North seeking the honey Of
plumber. They swept down upon
England, Belgium and Normandy,
and buzzipg far and near, pushed
their fearless fight as far as Sicily and
Southern Italy. Then they turned
northward and in S74 drew the line
OF their fight as far as Iceland, 600
miles from their Norwegian hive in
the wild Northern seas. In 1874 the
descendants OF these old sea kings of
the North celebrate not the centen-
NAL, but the millenial anniversary of
their settlement in Iceland.
From Iceland to Greenland is scant
200 miles. These old Morse sailors
we're always brave and cared no
more for waves and tempest than the
stormy petrol. We know that King
0lai's ship, the "Long Serpent" was
lao feet from stem to stern, and that
many of their vessels carried full
200 men. With such ships such men
could go anywhere aud laugh at bill
lows and storm. And, in 98i, Erick
the Red, with twenty. five ships, set
sail for Greenland. He doubled Cape
Farewell and planted a colony on the
eastern coast and called it Ericks-
ford. For 400 years Greenland was
a See of Papal Rome, and the names
Of seventeen successive bishops can
DO read ON the records of the Holy
Church. The colony throve, and
where today is barren land and in
hospitable ice, 300 farms.and villages
once fourished.
In the Sagas IL is written that in
800 Biarne Herjulfson, son of Her
| juli, Morse navigator, sailing from
Iceland to Greenland, was blown by
storm far west and sighted, amid
the logs that swathed it, a Newfound.
.laud. He did not land, but hurried
back and told the news TO those at
home. The story stirred the very
souls of those Morse seamen, and
four years later, in the year 1000, Leii
Erickson, with a stout ship, we'll
manned, sailed forth 10 test the story
that Horjulison had told. They
reached an island-Newloundland
doubtless-and called it Helluland
aud then wooded coast-Nova
Scotia--and named il MARYLAND.
Then they sailed southwark for two
days with a lair wind, and sighted
land and went ashore. IL was a
pleasant land, and where they landed
the wild grapes hung thick from
vines that make the trees their arbor
railing, and in their JOY they called
the country Vinland. On this shore
they wintered, aud thus the coast OF
Massachusetts, first knew the white
men. All this 400 years before Co.
lumbus.
Then followed Thorwald, brother
Of Erickson, in 1902. For three
years he dwelt 10 vinland, until war
arase between him aaa tho natives,
and in battle he was killed. And so
the long contest, that is not VIII oily
ended yet, although thousad years
have nearly passed, between the
white man and the red for
the possession Of the continent
began. and the old NOrseman sailor
aud sea king was, perhaps, the first
white man that iell-ihe first fruit
Of that harvest Of death that the red
sickles Of war for all the seventy
three years have been busily reaping
Then came others, both men and
women, 10 tho same shore, and with
them they brought cattle and sheep
and made 4 brave effort TO plant
themselves in the country. But the
natives fought them, and pirate
hordes invaded Greenland itself, and
later, a plague, called the black
death, swept over Europe and Scau-
dauavia like wave Of desolation,
and the colony or colonies in Massa-
chusetts persisted and eventually
passed from the minds OF men.
Lying on tho sands Of Taunton
river is a rock called Dighton Rock,
writ over with Runio characters,
rudely carved, Prof. RAIN, OF Co.
pcnhagau, iutctprets the rude writ
ing thus:
"Thoru6nn, with l57 Morse sea
iaring men, took possession OF this
land" We will show you the like
bess OF this strange monumental
stone that has lain a thousand years
on the Taunton river sands, bear.
inr It's witness Of these old men and
that old time.
DIGuToN ROCK.
Thou came John Cabot and his
son Sebastian. The Cabots were OF
Venice City OF the Sea, whose streets
are rivers and whose carriages are
boats. There was John Cabot,
born aud rarcd amid gondolas and
gondoliers, ships, whose sails were
colorcd silk and whose commanders
were as proud AZ Dogcs. The dream
Of sea going Venice was ever of the
West and OF undiscovered lands be.
You'd the setting sun, of which old
sailors for 1000 years have told
strange stories. In 1906 tho CAbots
made home in Bristol, England,
whether bauishcd out OF Venice or
having journeyod forth Of their own
free will, know not. But being ia
Bristol, King Henry tho VII,
anxious TO win his share OF undis.
covered lands aud gains, gave him
permission 10 traffic in foreign parts
on condition that the crown should
have ouo-6ith Of all the profits. And
30 tho old Venetian, In 1897,
sailed out OF the Bnis.
tol channel, hoping TO find
a western passage 10 the Kingdom OF
Cathay or China. Having sailed
west by north 200 leagues, as he com
putcd, he came upon tho coast oil
Labrador, which he supposed 10 be
the eastern shore Of China. lie
landed aud planted the royal stand.
ard, aud named the country PrimS
Vista. Then did the flag of England
FIRST wave above the con incnt, aud
the brave man who FIRST flung its red
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